John j



(No Model.)

J. J. HARDY.

GYROSGOPIG TOP.

No. 484,960. Patented Oct. 25, 1892.

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inafter described, and

A ,1 UNITED STATES JOIlN 'J. llARDY,

PATENT OFFICE.

OF C-llIOAGO, ILLINOIS, AssIeNoR or ONE-HALF TO CHRISTIAN RorP,

OF SAME PLACE.

GYROSCQPIC TOP.

srnorrzon'rron forming part of- Letters Patent No. 484,960, dated October 25, 892.

-' Application filed-Tanuary 19,1892.

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN J. HARDY, of Chicago, 111 the county of Cook. and State of Illi: H018, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Gyroseopic Tops; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the.

letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a novel toy in the nature of a spinning-top, but which resembles, also, the device known as a gyroscope, wherein the revolved body is so constructed or arranged that it may stand or will be supported with its axis of revolution in other than a vertical position.

Theinvention consistsin the matters herepointed out in the appended claims.

A device embodying my invention embraces as its main features an exterior shell or casing and an interior heavy body mounted to rotate within the exterior shell, having its parts symmetrically disposed with reference to the center of rotation, while the exterior is symmetrically arranged with reference to the axis of rotation of the said revolving body. The said shell is provided with a rigidly-attached supporting spindle or head, preferablyof spherical form,arrangedin alignment with the axis of rotation-0f theinterior heavy body, and a part or shaft rigid with the body extends through the shell in the said axis of rotation and is provided outside of the said shell with a cylindrical. part or drum, on which a string or cord may be wound to be withdrawn therefrom and give rapid rotary motion to the heavy body, or, with other means by which rotary motion may be imparted to said heavy body.

. The device constructed of the parts named may be used as an ordinary top, inwhich case it may rest either upon the spindle of the shell or the projecting spindle attached to the interior heavy body while spinning, or the spherical'end of the spindle attached to the shell may be placed on any suitable support,

when the article will stand in an inclined position or gyrate to its point of support in the same manner as an ordinary gyroscope.

Serial No. 418,548. (No model.)

rotation horizontal by the resting of the spindle attached to the outer shell or casing on the stationary support or post. Fig. 5 shows the device in a similar position when supported in the loop of a string.

As, shown in said drawings, A indicates the exterior casing'or shell, herein shown as made of spherical form; B, the interior heavy body or top proper, herein shown as of wheel or disk form, and C a center shaft or spindle mounted within the shell A and to which disk B is secured. Said spindle G is engaged at one end with: a block 'or plug D,

secured to the shell A, and at its opposite end passes through a bearing E, secured to the shell at the side thereof diametrically opposite the plug D. The said shaft is arranged to extend beyond or outside of the shell through a hole in the same and having at its outer end a drum F, from which a cord may be wound for the purpose of giving rotary motion to the top. The end of the" spindle C, engaged with thebearing on plug D, is preferably made conical or pointed, as shown, and rests in-a V-shaped step or bearing-recess in said plug, so thataminimum amount of friction will be produced in the rotation of the spindle relatively to the shell. A collar con the said spindle, resting against the bearing E, serves to prevent the spindle from being shifted endwise out of place. The extreme end of the spindle U is preferably formed into The-invention may be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying draw- 4 shows the device standing with its axis of a conical bearing 0', which may rest on the. I

forming a spherical bearingsurface for engagement with the support on which the-ar-. ticle rests under-some circumstances, "In the practical construction shown the spindle G is 5 secured to the, shell by means of .a--screw-' v threaded shank on the plug-D,which shank passes through a hole in the shell A and enjters a screw-threaded recessin the spindle G.

In operating or'spinning the gyroscopic top IO described it is held in one hand by grasping the shell A and then applying force' to the \projecting end of the spindle C in a manner v to give rapid-rotary motion tothetopB, at-

tached to said spindle-I .Therdrum F,;around which a string may be wound-and from whichit maytbe wit-hdrawn in the same manner, as in spinning an ordinary top, forms a convert-; ient means of giving such' rotary motion-to the top B. When the top B has beenput-in ,top. If placedwith the head'jgdownward, .the'article will spinito'so'me extent like an ordinary top;'but by reason of thefrictionb'e t'ween'the head g and the surface onlwhich .it tests the shell will be retardedrelatiuely: to the heavy .b'ody.;- Inasmuch, however, as there will between the spindle O and the shell'than there would be between said spindle and the. surface on which it rests, owing to the aQQlb rate mechanical adjustment or fit whichmay be employed in making the bearing-surfaces, 0 the motion of the top proper will continue a much longer time than would a top as ojrdi.- 'narily con'structed' and in fact the article will still retain its upright position after the exterior shell has ceased torevolve with the same, it being of course understoodthat after the speed of rotation of the interior top has been so reduced'that it is not snflicient to overcome the friction between the head gand the supporting-surface the outer shell will no longer revolve. Fig. 1 shows the device while standing 'on the said head Fig. 4 shows the device used in the same manner as-a-gyroscope IIinsaid'figure, showing a supporting-post having a depression or recess h, at its top, in which the head 9 is allowed to restafter the interior heavy body has been put in rotation. The article thus supported will revolve about the post II while .remaining with its axis in a horizontal or angularposition in which it has been placed 1n the samemanner as the well-known gyro- 60 scope. A

In Fig. 5 the'article is shown asbeing spun with its axis of rotation horizontal, by means pf a string or cord I, the loop of which is engaged with a groove formed between the head 35 g and. the body of the spindle G.

When the article is allowedto rest vertiin other of any desired form be much less friction developed cally ona convex surface, as indicatedindotted lines at J, Fig. 1-snch, 'for instance, as the inner surface of a smooth saucer-the article will describe a movement in a circle or will, words, gyrate or revolve about a central axisof revolution.

The article made as describedis obviously capable of uses in other ways calculated to amuse or instruct-as,- forinstance, when holdingitin the hand afterhaving put the interior' top in rapid rotation a considerable and perceptible effortis required to changethe angular position of the artiole,so that the tendency of a rotating body to continue to, rotate-inthe'same plane may be ,well 111118;:

trated bythns holding andmoving it.-

. While lhave shown'the outer shell asof Sphericaljform and the-inner revoluble body in theform 'ot' a disk, yet it is-obvious that these parts may be varied inshape or made I without departure from m'yinvc ltion. 4 p l i v y. Byextendiug the spindle through the shell,

.secur-ingthe drum thereon, and providing the I spindle with a'conical bearing-point outside of thedruin a simple and desirable'means of attire same'timeithe top is adapted to be spun on either end, as desired, An, important adgiving motion to the spindle is aiforded, and 5 V 951, vantageis gained by theemploymentof the drum, arranged as described, in connection with a continuous o t-"spherical shell, as will 'be obvious fromthe fact that in winding the cord onthed-r'umthe shell may be grasped in one hand,.with the end ofithe'cord pinched or held between the thumb of that hand andthe shell, and the cord may be then easily and quickly Wou'ndby the-use of the other;

hand. v v As-herein'before set forth, the rounded or spherical head g aitords such degree of fricti-onalcontact with the surface upon which it rests that the rotation of the'shell isretarded.

The extent of retardation will vary according tojcircu instances, and when the frictional resistance to the turningof the shell is so great that it has littleor no'rotation the articlehas the appearance of standing. on" thehead g without apparent reason. This will commonly be the case when the top is: supported on pcdestaL'the shell at such timesrotating very .slowly or not at all, and thereby producinga puzzling or mystifying efiect and. greatly increasing the value of the article as a scientific toy orcuriosity.-. I I claim as 'myd'nvention 1. The gyroscopic top described, comprising an outer continuous shellhaving a rounded or spherical head projecting therefrom and -ligid therewith and a top mounted therein with its axial'rotativeshatt in line withsaid projecting head, said shaft extending through tlie'shell at a point oppositcthehcad and being provided externally to the shell with a rigidly-attached spool or drum for a spinningcord,substantially.asdescribed.

2. The gyr'oscopic top described,eomprising cord and an axial bearing-point at the outer 10 an outer continuous shell having a rounded end of the spool, substantially as described.

or spherical head projecting therefrom and In testimony that I claim the foregoing as rigid therewith and a top mounted therein my invention I affix my signature in presence with its axial rotative shaft in line with said of two witnesses.

projecting head, said shaft eiztending through JOHN J. HARDY. the shell at a point opposite the head and be- Witnesses: ing provided externally to the shell with a C. CLARENCE POOLE, rigidly-attached spool or drum for a spinning- I GEORGE W. HIGGINS, J r. 

